Bradley Wiggins' lead cut in Tour of California

Sir Bradley Wiggins came ninth in stage three of the Tour of California, two minutes 20 seconds behind the winner Rohan Dennis but maintained an overall lead of 24 seconds. Photograph: Photosport Int/REX
Photosport Int/REX/Photosport Int/REX

Bradley Wiggins retained the overall lead in the Tour of California but Rohan Dennis closed on him with victory in stage three. The Briton had replaced Mark Cavendish as race leader after winning Monday's Folsom time trial, with Garmin Sharp's Dennis in second.

The Australian edged out Portugal's Tiago Machado, riding for Netapp-Endura, to win Tuesday's stage from San Jose to Mount Diablo State Park. His time of four hours, 56 minutes and two seconds was 20sec quicker than ninth-placed Wiggins, cutting the overall deficit on the Team Sky rider to 24sec.

Machado was a further 41sec behind in third overall, with the American Lawson Craddock fourth for Giant-Shimano and another British rider, Adam Yates, fifth. Meanwhile, a fantastic burst from Diego Ulissi helped the Italian win the fifth stage of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday while the Australian Michael Matthews retained the overall leader's pink jersey.

Ulissi came from behind with 150m to go to cross the line solo at the end of the 203km leg from Taranto to Viggiano.